Optical Scrolling Module and Optical Control Module

ABSTRACT

An optical scrolling module includes a prism, a light source, an image sensor and a first condenser. The prism is disposed at an opening of an upper shell of a mouse and has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface. The contact and light incident surfaces are respectively connected between the reflective and light emitting surfaces. The contact surface is exposed by the opening. A light beam from the light source is transmitted to the contact surface via the light incident and reflective surfaces. When an object with a pattern structure puts on the contact surface, the light beam is scattered and a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser. When the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a mouse and an opticalcontrol module, and more particularly to an optical scrolling module ofa mouse and an optical control module adapted to be applied to a mouse.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical scrolling module of aconventional mouse. Referring to FIG. 1, an optical scrolling module 200of a conventional mouse 100 is disposed in a housing 110 of the mouse100. The housing 110 is composed of an upper shell 112 and a bottomshell 114. The upper shell 112 has an opening 112 a, and a transparentplate 116 is disposed at the opening 112 a. Furthermore, the opticalscrolling module 200 comprises a light source 210, a lens 220 and acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor 230, whereinthe light source 210 and the CMOS image sensor 230 are electricallyconnected to a circuit board 130 of the mouse 100 through wires 120.

In addition, the light source 210 is for providing a light beam 212 tothe transparent plate 116. When an user puts a finger 50 on thetransparent plate 116, the light beam 212 is scattered by a fingerprintof the finger 50, and thus a portion of the light beam 212 is reflectedto the lens 220 and then is focused to the CMOS image sensor 230 by thelens 220. The CMOS image sensor 230 is for converting an optical signalinto an electrical signal. Thus, when the finger 50 moves on thetransparent plate 116, the CMOS image sensor 230 could sense a movingdirection of the finger 50, and then the mouse 100 could scroll a scrollbar in a window displayed by a screen according to the electrical signalprovided by the CMOS image sensor 230.

In the conventional technique, all elements (i.e. the light source 210,the lens 220 and the CMOS image sensor 230) of the optical scrollingmodule 200 are integrated into one piece, and a shape of the opticalscrolling module 200 needs to be modified for being applied to thehousing 110 with different shape. Therefore, the scrolling module 200 ofthe conventional technique is not suitable for mass production, suchthat the production cost of the scrolling module 200 is higher.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides an optical scrolling module to reduce theproduction cost.

The present invention further provides an optical control module capableof being applied to a mouse.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned advantages, an optical scrollingmodule in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention isprovided. The optical scrolling module is adapted to be applied to amouse. The mouse has a housing and a circuit board disposed in thehousing, and an upper shell of the housing having an opening. Theoptical scrolling module comprises a prism, a light source, an imagesensor and a first condenser. The prism is disposed at the opening andhas a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surfaceand a light emitting surface. The contact surface is connected betweenthe reflective surface and the light emitting surface and is exposed bythe opening, and the light incident surface is connected between thereflective surface and the light emitting surface and faces the circuitboard. The light source is disposed on the circuit board for providing alight beam, the image sensor is disposed on the circuit board, and thefirst condenser is disposed between the image sensor and the prism.Further, the light beam is transmitted to the reflective surface via thelight incident surface and is reflected to the contact surface by thereflective surface. When an object having a pattern structure contactsthe contact surface, the light beam transmitted to the contact surfaceis scattered and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to theimage sensor via the first condenser. When the object is removed fromthe contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emittingsurface by the contact surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an optical axis of the lightbeam is perpendicularly incident to the light incident surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a refractive index of theprism is between 1.2 and 1.9, an included angle between the reflectivesurface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees,and an included angle between the reflective surface and the lightincident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a depth of field (DOF) ofthe first condenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first condensercomprises at least a lens.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical scrolling modulefurther comprises a second condenser disposed between the light sourceand the prism.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second condensercomprises at least a lens.

An optical scrolling module in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention is provided. The optical control module comprises alight source, a prism, an image sensor and a first condenser. The lightsource is for providing a light beam. The prism has a light incidentsurface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emittingsurface. The contact surface is connected between the reflective surfaceand the light emitting surface, and the light incident surface isconnected between the reflective surface and the light emitting surfaceand faces the light source. The first condenser is disposed between theimage sensor and the prism. The light beam is transmitted to thereflective surface via the light incident surface and is reflected tothe contact surface by the reflective surface, when an object having apattern structure contacts the contact surface, the light beamtransmitted to the contact surface is scattered and then a portion ofthe light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the firstcondenser, when the object is removed from the contact surface, thelight beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contactsurface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an optical axis of the lightbeam is perpendicularly incident to the light incident surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a refractive index of theprism is between 1.2 and 1.9, an included angle between the reflectivesurface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees,and an included angle between the reflective surface and the lightincident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a DOF of the first condenseris between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first condensercomprises at least a lens

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical control modulefurther comprises a second condenser disposed between the light sourceand the prism.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second condensercomprises at least a lens.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical control modulefurther comprising a circuit board. The light source and the imagesensor are disposed on the circuit board.

In the present invention, because the light source and the image sensorare disposed on the same circuit board, the optical scrolling module canbe applied to multiple types of mice with different shapes. Therefore,the optical scrolling module of the present invention is suitable formass production, such that the production cost is reduced. Furthermore,the optical control module of the present invention can be applied tomultiple types of electrical products to be served as a button, apointing device or an optical scrolling module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical scrolling module of aconventional mouse.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an optical scrolling module according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing a transmission path of a lightbeam provided by the light source when the object contacts the opticalscrolling module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing a transmission path of a lightbeam provided by the light source when the object does not contact theoptical scrolling module of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic view of an optical control moduleaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an optical scrolling module according tothe first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, anoptical scrolling module 300 of the first embodiment is adapted to beapplied to a mouse 400. The mouse 400 has a housing 410 and a circuitboard 420 disposed in the housing 410. The housing 410 comprises anupper shell 412 and a bottom shell 414, wherein the upper shell 412 hasan opening 412 a.

The optical scrolling module 300 comprises a prism 310, a light source320, an image sensor 330 and a first condenser 340. The prism 310 isdisposed at the opening 412 a and has a light incident surface 312, areflective surface 314, a contact surface 316 and a light emittingsurface 318. The contact surface 316 is connected between the reflectivesurface 314 and the light emitting surface 318 and is exposed by theopening 412 a. An user can put an object (e.g. a finger) having apattern structure on the contact surface 316 to operate the opticalscrolling module 300. The light incident surface 312 is connectedbetween the reflective surface 314 and the light emitting surface 318and faces the circuit board 420. The light source 320 and the imagesensor 330 are disposed on the circuit board 420, and the firstcondenser 340 is disposed between the image sensor 330 and the prism310.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing a transmission path of a lightbeam provided by the light source when the object contacts the opticalscrolling module of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing atransmission path of a light beam provided by the light source when theobject does not contact the optical scrolling module of FIG. 2.Referring to FIG. 3A firstly, the light source 320 can be, but notlimited to, a laser diode (LD) or a light emitting diode (LED). Thelight source 320 is for providing a light beam 322 to the prism 310, andthe light beam 322 is incident to the prism 310 via the light incidentsurface 312 and is transmitted to the reflective surface 314. Thereflective surface 314 reflects the light beam 322 to the contactsurface 316. When the user puts the object (e.g. the finger 60) havingthe pattern structure on the contact surface 316, the light beam 322transmitted to the contact surface 316 is scattered by the patternstructure (i.e. the fingerprint) of the finger 60, and then a portion ofthe light beam 322 is transmitted to the image sensor 330 via the firstcondenser 340.

In addition, the first condenser 340 includes, for example, at least alens and is for focusing the light beam 322 on the image sensor 330. Theimage sensor 330 is, for example, a CMOS image sensor or a chargecoupled device (CCD) and is for converting a received optical signalinto an electrical signal. Therefore, when the finger 60 moves on thecontact surface 316, the image sensor 330 could sense a moving directionof the finger 60, and then the mouse 400 could scroll a scroll bar in awindow displayed by a screen according to the electrical signal providedby the image sensor 330. Furthermore, the image sensor 330 could sensewhether the finger 60 contacts the contact surface 316 or not, so theoptical scrolling module 300 may further has a button function.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when the object (e.g. the finger 60) is removedfrom the contact surface 316, the light beam 322 transmitted to thecontact surface 316 is reflected to the light emitting surface 318 bythe contact surface 316, so the image sensor 330 could not receive theoptical signal.

To let the transmission path of the light beam 322 accord with expected,an incident angle of an optical axis 322 a of the light beam 322incident to the light incident surface 312, a refractive index of theprism 310, an included angle between the reflective surface 314 and thecontact surface 316 and an included angle between the reflective surface314 and the light incident surface 312 can be controlled. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the optical axis 322 a of the lightbeam 322 is, for example, perpendicularly incident to the light incidentsurface 312, the refractive index of the prism 310 is, for example,between 1.2 and 1.9, the included angle between the reflective surface314 and the contact surface 316 is, for example, between 50 degrees and125 degrees, and the included angle between the reflective surface 314and the light incident surface 312 is, for example, between 30 degreesand 60 degrees.

Furthermore, the optical scrolling module 300 can further comprise asecond condenser 350 disposed between the light source 320 and the prism310 to condense the light beam 322. The second condenser 350 canincludes at least a lens. In addition, the first condenser 340 and thesecond condenser 350 can be integrated into one piece.

Comparing the present embodiment with the conventional technique of FIG.1, the light source 320 and the image sensor 330 of the opticalscrolling module 300 are disposed on the circuit board 420, so theoptical scrolling module 300 can be applied to multiple housings withdifferent shapes. In other word, the optical scrolling module 300 of thepresent embodiment is suitable for mass production, such that theproduction cost is reduced.

Furthermore, because different housings may have different thicknesses,a DOF of the first condenser 340 can be limited to let the image sensor330 can clearly receive the optical signal. More specifically, the DOFof the first condenser 340 of the present embodiment is, for example,between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic view of an optical control moduleaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIGS. 4A and 4B, an optical control module 500 of the presentembodiment comprises a prism 510, a light source 520, an image sensor530 and a first condenser 540. The prism 510 has a light incidentsurface 512, a reflective surface 514, a contact surface 516 and a lightemitting surface 518. The contact surface 516 is connected between thereflective surface 514 and the light emitting surface 518, the lightincident surface 512 is connected between the reflective surface 514 andthe light emitting surface 518 and faces the light source 520. The imagesensor 530 may be disposed beside the light source 520, and the firstcondenser 540 is disposed between the image sensor 530 and the prism510.

In the optical control module 500, the light source 520 can be, but notlimited to, an LD or an LED. The light source 520 is for providing alight beam 522 to the prism 510. The light beam 522 is incident to theprism 510 via the light incident surface 512, and is transmitted to thereflective surface 514. Then, the light beam 522 is reflected to thecontact surface 516 of the reflective surface 514.

Referring to FIG. 4A, when an user puts an object (e.g. a finger 70)having a pattern structure on the contact surface 516, the light beam522 transmitted to the contact surface 516 is scattered by the patternstructure (i.e. a fingerprint) of the finger 70, and then a portion ofthe light beam 522 is transmitted to the image sensor 530 via the firstcondenser 540. Moreover, the first condenser 540 includes, for example,at least a lens and is for focusing the light beam 522 on the imagesensor 530. The image sensor 530 is, for example, a CMOS image sensor ora CCD and is for converting the received optical signal into anelectrical signal. Therefore, the image sensor 530 could sense operatingactions, such as moving and pressing etc., of the finger 70 operating onthe contact surface 516.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when the object (e.g. the finger 70) is removedfrom the contact surface 516, the light beam 522 transmitted to thecontact surface 516 is reflected to the light emitting surface 518 bycontact surface 516, so the image sensor 530 could not receive theoptical signal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical control module500 may further comprise a second condenser 550 disposed between thelight source 520 and the prism 510 to condense the light beam 522. Thesecond condenser 550 is, for example, including at least a lens.Further, the light source 520 and the image sensor 530 are disposed on acircuit board 560 of the optical control module 500. When the opticalcontrol module 500 is applied to an electrical apparatus, the circuitboard 560 and a circuit board of the electrical apparatus can beintegrated into one piece.

Because the image sensor 530 of the optical control module 500 couldsense the operating actions of the finger 70 operating on the contactsurface 516, the image sensor 530 can be applied to multiple types ofelectrical apparatuses. The prism 510 of the optical control module 500is embedded in a housing of the electrical apparatus. More specifically,the optical scrolling module 300 of FIG. 2 is an applying example of theoptical control module 500 of the present embodiment. Moreover, theoptical control module 500 can be applied to portable electricalapparatuses, such as a notebook PC, a mobile phone, and a music playeretc., to be served as a pointing device or a button.

Similar to the first embodiment, to let the transmission path of thelight beam 522 accord with expected, an incident angle of an opticalaxis 522 a of the light beam 522 incident to the light incident surface512, a refractive index of the prism 510, an included angle between thereflective surface 514 and the contact surface 516 and an included anglebetween the reflective surface 514 and the light incident surface 512can be controlled. In one embodiment of the present invention, theoptical axis 522 a of the light beam 522 is, for example,perpendicularly incident to the light incident surface 512, therefractive index of the prism 510 is, for example, between 1.2 and 1.9,the included angle between the reflective surface 514 and the contactsurface 516 is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and the includedangle of the reflective surface 514 and the light incident surface 512is, for example, between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

Furthermore, because different electrical apparatuses may have differentthickness, a DOF of the first condenser 540 can be limited to let imagesensor 530 can clearly receive the optical signal when the opticalcontrol module 500 is applied to different electrical apparatus. Morespecifically, the DOF of the first condenser 540 of the presentembodiment is, for example, between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

In summary, the present invention can achieve at least the followingadvantages.

1. In the optical scrolling module of the present invention, because thelight source and the image sensor are disposed on the same circuitboard, the optical scrolling module can be applied to multiple types ofmice with different shapes. Therefore, the optical scrolling module ofthe present invention is suitable for mass production, such that theproduction cost is reduced.

2. The image sensor of the optical control module of the presentinvention could sense the operating actions of the finger operating onthe contact surface, so the optical control module can be applied tomultiple types of electrical products to be served as a button, apointing device or an optical scrolling module.

3. By controlling the DOF of the first condenser, the image sensor canclearly receive the optical signal.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portionsand materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, thevarious features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone,or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to belimited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope ofthe claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

1. An optical scrolling module for a mouse, the mouse having a housingand a circuit board disposed in the housing, an upper shell of thehousing having an opening, the optical scrolling module comprising: aprism disposed at the opening and having a light incident surface, areflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface, thecontact surface being connected between the reflective surface and thelight emitting surface and being exposed by the opening, and the lightincident surface being connected between the reflective surface and thelight emitting surface and facing the circuit board; a light sourcedisposed on the circuit board for providing a light beam; an imagesensor disposed on the circuit board; and a first condenser disposedbetween the image sensor and the prism, wherein, the light beam istransmitted to the reflective surface via the light incident surface andis reflected to the contact surface by the reflective surface, when anobject having a pattern structure contacts the contact surface, thelight beam transmitted to the contact surface is scattered and then aportion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via thefirst condenser, when the object is removed from the contact surface,the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contactsurface.
 2. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1, whereinan optical axis of the light beam is perpendicularly incident to thelight incident surface.
 3. The optical scrolling module as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a refractive index of the prism is between 1.2 and 1.9,an included angle between the reflective surface and the contact surfaceis between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and an included angle between thereflective surface and the light incident surface is between 30 degreesand 60 degrees.
 4. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1,wherein a depth of field of the first condenser is between 5 millimetersand 30 millimeters.
 5. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim1, wherein the first condenser comprises at least a lens.
 6. The opticalscrolling module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a secondcondenser disposed between the light source and the prism.
 7. Theoptical scrolling module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the secondcondenser comprises at least a lens.
 8. An optical control module,comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; a prism having alight incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and alight emitting surface, the contact surface being connected between thereflective surface and the light emitting surface, and the lightincident surface being connected between the reflective surface and thelight emitting surface and facing the light source; an image sensor; anda first condenser disposed between the image sensor and the prism,wherein, the light beam is transmitted to the reflective surface via thelight incident surface and is reflected to the contact surface by thereflective surface, when an object having a pattern structure contactsthe contact surface, the light beam transmitted to the contact surfaceis scattered and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to theimage sensor via the first condenser, when the object is removed fromthe contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emittingsurface by the contact surface.
 9. The optical control module as claimedin claim 8, wherein an optical axis of the light beam is perpendicularlyincident to the light incident surface.
 10. The optical control moduleas claimed in claim 8, wherein a refractive index of the prism isbetween 1.2 and 1.9, an included angle between the reflective surfaceand the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and anincluded angle between the reflective surface and the light incidentsurface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.
 11. The optical controlmodule as claimed in claim 8, wherein a depth of field of the firstcondenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.
 12. The opticalcontrol module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first condensercomprises at least a lens.
 13. The optical control module as claimed inclaim 8 further comprising a second condenser disposed between the lightsource and the prism.
 14. The optical control module as claimed in claim13, wherein the second condenser comprises at least a lens.
 15. Theoptical control module as claimed in claim 8 further comprising acircuit board, wherein the light source and the image sensor aredisposed on the circuit board.